Pose: Butterfly Swing

We all know that most newborns love gentle rocking and swaying movements. Such movement also stimulates their vestibular system, the part of the brain that is responsible for how we orient ourselves in space and learn to balance. As our babies grow older, we can progress to more dynamic swinging movements. Most babies love the Butterfly Swing and it will help them acquire stronger back muscles and improve her sitting balance.

The Butterfly Swing is strictly for babies over 4 months old. If your baby is over 4 months old but her seat (bum) drops well below her feet when held in butterfly pose, wait for a few weeks before starting to swing her.

Instructions for Pose:

1. Sit in a kneeling position. Have your baby sitting in butterfly pose, facing away from you.

2. Holding her ankles firmly, take a breath and kneel up, bringing her lower back against your belly button.

3. Exhale and lower her down to the floor again. Repeat a few times until your arms and back feel comfortable in this lift.

4. To start swinging, lift her up and move her forward slightly in front of you. Her elbows should lie relaxed on your forearms. Swing her gently at first and gradually expand the range of movement. Watch her reaction to the swing to guide you whether you should swing slow or fast, gentle or dynamic.

5. Rhyme to accompany the swing - Hickory Dickory Dock

"Hickory Dickory dock,

The mouse ran up the clock,

The clock struck one

The mouse ran down,

Hickory Dickory dock."

6. End by lowering your baby onto the floor in front of you, tap her feet together in a little clap and release your hold.

Pose: Flying Baby

Here is another pose that Baby Gloria enjoys. This pose allows her to practise "tummy time" in a fun way while I can enjoys a back massage, if I roll side to side or strengthen my abdominals if I bring my knees in and out. I try to practise this pose 30 mins after she has fed, to reduce the chances of her vomitting her feed.

Instructions for Pose:
1. Sit with your knees bent 90 deg.
2. Hold your baby at her sides, with her chest and tummy against your shins.
3. Slowly lie down on the floor, bringing your baby up to face you as she rests on your shins.
4. Keep your hands around her sides to keep her safe and secure.
5. You can either bounce your baby on your knees (Hear her giggle!!) or roll your body and baby side to side for a lower back massage.
6. You can also bring your baby towards your face by crunching your abdominals.
7. To come out of the pose, roll yourself up into sitting. Give your baby a big hug!

Let your baby's reactions guide your movements. Remember, some babies may need some time to warm up to new yoga poses.

Pose: Toes to the Nose

As Baby Gloria gets older, she becomes more flexible. She is now 6 months old and is able to bring her foot to her mouth. She loves to put practically everything into her mouth to explore!





Instructions for Pose:
1. Mummy can either kneel or sit cross-legged on the floor. Have your baby either sitting on your thigh or in your lap, with her back closest to you.

2. Use your right hand to hold your baby's right leg near her ankle. Your thumb can rest on her shin while your first few fingers support the back of her leg. Support her left leg with your left hand.

3. Bring baby's toes to her nose. You can even tickle her nose with her toes.

4. Repeat 3-5 times.

As with all other yoga poses, it is important to respect our baby. Notice the limit of her flexibility and if she resists the movement, do not force. You can always practise again another day!

This pose helps to improve and maintain hip flexibility. Hip flexibility in boys is different from that in girls. If your baby is a boy, he will be less flexible because of the way the thigh bones (femurs) are positioned into his pelvis.

Babies chilling out....

Looks like baby Rayden (middle) is the source of attention for the only two baby girls (Gloria in dark pink and Leola in light pink). Babies Enzo (far left) and Nathan (far right) looking away, oblivious....

BB Yoga class with July MTB

Here we are, after finishing 6 sessions of bb yoga class.
(Left to Right - Mum/Baby): Instructor Julie/Gloria, Irene/Nathan, Phyllis/Rayden, Bindi/Leola, Lynn/Enzo. Our babies are around 4 months old...

Simple Arm Sequence

Here are the pictures accompanying the simple arm sequence for the rhyme OPEN-SHUT THEM in the Good Morning Sequence. I usually perform this sequence after bb Gloria's morning bath and take a chance to wipe her armpits dry, when her arms are stretched out wide! I also sing a slow rhyme to accompany the actions - the words of the rhyme are in CAPITALS.

Benefits of this sequence:
Helps babies to open their chest, expand their lungs and encourage deeper breathing. Newborn babies are naturally quite closed in their upper body, as they have been curled tightly in the womb. This simple sequence will help to uncurl their upper body.

Babies who have been resisting upper body massage or dislike stretching their arms out will benefit from this especially. Most babies love the little cuddle at the end of the rhyme and you may see them relaxing their arms more, after a few days of practice.

"OPEN" - Open your baby's arms out wide to the sides. Do not force any of the movements. Gently stretch your baby's arms out as much as she allows, without tension.



"SHUT THEM" - Bring your baby's hands to the centre (chest).






"DON"T GET IN A MUDDLE" - roll your baby's hands in a circle (picture not shown).

Repeat "OPEN-SHUT THEM".











"GIVE YOURSELF A CUDDLE" - Cross your baby's arms on her chest and enjoy a close cuddle together, while gently rocking side to side.

Hip Sequences - Part 1

Benefits

The hip sequence involves bending and stretching your baby's legs. The movements are adapted from the core of Hatha yoga, which aims to open the hip and knee joints, to help tone the deeper muscles around the base of the spine.

The 3 movements below are easy and acceptable to most babies. The alternating pressure and release movements helps to massage your baby's intestines, hence improving digestion and relieving constipation.

Starting position:
Hold your baby's thighs loosely, with your fingers resting on top of her thighs and your thumbs on the underside of her thighs.

Knees to Chest:
Slowly lift your baby's knees up towards her chest. Bring her thighs firmly towards her abdomen. Hold for 3 to 10 seconds. Release and repeat 2-3 times, adjusting the pressure to suit your baby. Stop if your baby is not happy.

Knees from Side to Side:
Keeping your hands in the same position, move your baby's legs to the left and then to the right. Press firmly on each side of her abdomen, taking time to release the pressure before changing sides.

Hip Rolls (Round and Round)
Keeping your hands in the same position, roll your baby's legs in a circle to the left and then to the right, as close to your baby's body as possible. Start with a small movement for younger babies and make the movement bigger as your baby gets used to it.
* To promote baby's digestion and bowel movement, you may want to focus on circling your baby's thighs clockwise to follow the direction of the gut.

Songs:
Sing your favourite song to accompany the movements, watching all the while to see if your baby is enjoying the movement. I sing a simple "If you are happy, and you know it, bend your knees" etc to accompany the 3 movements above.




Baby Gloria enjoying her hip sequence at her playmat.